Endangered Earth

Amur Leopard Amur leopards look similar to other leopard species but have a few differences. They have paler coats and have large, dark, and widely spaced spots with unbroken rings. These leopards are located in Russia in the far east and adjacent areas in China. Since they are adapted to colder climates, they have thick coats that can grow up to 7 centimeters in the winter. With a remaining population of only 120 adults, these leopards are classified as critically endangered.  If these leopards were to become extinct, the ecosystem would become unbalanced because they are top predators. The animals they hunt would become overpopulated and the plants their prey consumes would decrease, causing the plants to die off. The health of the water, land, food, and other resources that local wildlife and people utilize would also be damaged.  The main cause for the decline of Amur leopards is the poaching for their fur, which can sell for up to $1,000 illegally. Their bones may also be harveste

 Black Rhinoceros Black Rhinos compared to White Rhinos have a hooked lip and a shorter forehead. They have two horns that grow throughout their lives. The front horn is longer than the rear with an average of 19 inches long. They stand at about 5 feet tall, weighing about 1,760-3,080 pounds. Their current population is about 6,195, with a majority of them living in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Because a majority live in these countries, they have become accustomed to shrublands, tropical and subtropical grasslands, montane forests, and savannas.  Black Rhinos are important grazers. They consume large amounts of vegetation - up to 220 different plant species such as shrubs, branches, shoots, fruits, etc. Their consumption helps shape Africa's landscape and not only benefits other animals but also keeps a healthy balance within the ecosystem.  The main reason why Black Rhinos are critically endangered is because of poaching. Rhino horns are poachers' targets. Thei

 Monarch Butterfly The monarch is an orange butterfly with a wingspan of 3.5-4 inches. What makes it different from butterflies are its prominent dark veins and two rows of white spots outlining the wings. With their population declining from about 10 million in the 1980s, their population in 2021 estimated to only be 1,914. This is a decline of 99.9% since the 1980s.  Monarch caterpillars need milkweeds as host plants. These plants provide toxins to protect them from predators. Adult monarchs rest in trees near bodies of water and feed on nectar from flowers. The majority of monarchs migrate from Mexico to Canada. During their migration in the summer, they breed in the U.S. and southern Canada. They migrate back to Mexico for winter. Monarch Butterflies are pollinators. As they migrate they pollinate so that ecosystems can thrive. If they were to go extinct, many plants and ecosystems would suffer along with the food we eat. On top of that, the bird population would decline because mo

  Blue Whales Blue Whales are the largest mammals on Earth. Their long, slender bodies can grow up to 90 feet and weighing in at over 100,000 pounds. They get their name from their blue-grey color that appears as blue underwater. Currently, there are only about 10,000 to 25,000 blue whales left in the world.  Ranging from subtropics to the Greenland Sea, Blue Whales migrate seasonally between summer feeding grounds and winter breeding grounds.    According to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), "Whales are ay the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. They play a significant role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere; each whale sequesters an estimated 33 tons of CO2 on average, thus playing their part in the fight against climate change." Blue Whales were listed on the endangered species list in 1970 and the numbers continue to decline. The main reasons for this decline is because of the threats from vessel s